June 28, 2014 1:03 pm

Michael Robinson sat down in the media work room at Seahawks headquarters Thursday and grabbed a roster. He looked through the list, not knowing some of the names but glad no one was listed next to “26”.

It’s becoming pretty clear that Robinson will not play again. His health scare at training camp last year — when he was hospitalized three times because of kidney and liver issues — forced him into a future where he could not take anti-inflammatories or else he’d risk repeated kidney and liver problems. So, he played all of last season sore as hell.

“I still love Sundays,” Robinson said.

Robinson had multiple roles with the Seahawks: special teams captain, fullback, spiritual leader, de facto spokesperson for Marshawn Lynch.

Robinson said the latter will remain a job duty. When asked about Lynch’s reported desire to rework his contract, Robinson said Lynch has confided in him, but now was not the time to discuss it with the media. Though, Robinson went on to say this about Lynch:

“The guy has been the face of this franchise since the day he stepped in that door, it’s been Beast Mode. Just from my knowledge of it, he has been the face of the franchise. Pete (Carroll) (general manager) John (Schneider), they’ve made no qualms about saying that. And he’s (Lynch) just like ‘I just want to be paid like it.’ I think the devaluation of the (running) back doesn’t help his case, the fact that he has two years left on his deal doesn’t help his case, which I’ve expressed to him.

“The fact that the biggest free agent running back signing got $3.5 million a season (Chris Johnson) doesn’t help him. But you take Marshawn Lynch off the team last year, do we win the Super Bowl? I think all of us know the answer to that. He just wants to be paid like it. He knows he has a short window left. Nobody says anything when teams cut a guy at this juncture, though. I’m all in for players getting their dollars, man, because you have a short life.”

Robinson was then asked if age is a factor for Lynch, who is 28.

“I don’t think it’s a factor for him. I think it’s a factor for them (the Seahawks) because 30 is this “magic” number. He leads the league in carries the last three years, but he probably has the fewest carries all through training camp and preseason. He gets his rest. So I don’t know. We’ll see.”

Robinson said if his phone rang today, he could still play. Monday through Saturday is difficult for him, however. He pointed out that only two teams — the Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers — really know him. Robinson said he was not afraid of competing for a spot, but at this point would need the right situation to play. In the past, anti-inflammatories would allow Robinson to recover from a game by Wednesday. Last year, he was not feeling good until walk-through on Saturday.

NFL players can sign retirement papers and send them in, or, if they don’t have any activity with an NFL team for a year, the player is considered retired. Robinson is letting the inactivity clock tick.

“A team would have to tell me some pretty good stuff,” Robinson said.

When it was suggested he could go on the “Marshawn Plan,” Robinson laughed. “That’s pretty enticing.”

Which leaves him as a daytime drama actor on the Young and the Restless and finalizing his options to work as an NFL analyst. Robinson said he would not be afraid to tell the truth or be critical about the Seahawks or any other team while on TV.

Funny thing about the daytime TV gig: Remember “Seahawks week” on the NFL Network after they won the Super Bowl? During that, Robinson was on all week. In one bit, called “Guilty Pleasures,” Robinson admitted liking The Young and the Restless. He said immediately afterward, his phone was rattling with tweets from The Young and Restless Twitter account inviting to come on set.

Robinson is also leveraging his increased fame to get the ear of Congresspeople back home in Virginia. He said winning the Super Bowl has boosted his platform to a point that he can get people of that ilk involved with his foundation and helping people in poverty. In essence, he’s trying to connect the decision-makers with a sect of society they may have forgotten.

He’ll be with his former teammates tonight to receive his Super Bowl ring. He said he’s just looking forward to seeing everybody.

“Before the White House a lot of the guys were at my football camp, so I got a chance to hang out,” Robinson said. “I didn’t really get a chance … guys like Robert Turbin. Just hang with him a little bit. Young back. He was my little homie when he came in the league. You know, he’s getting some adversity right now. But, like I’ve told him: Ever since I’ve been in the league, they’ve always drafted a guy at another position. They’ve always pushed another guy. You elevate your play. Do what you have to do. I’m just excited to get around those types of guys.

“James Carpenter. I heard he’s lost some weight. I can’t wait to see him, talk to him a little bit, see where his mind is. To me, he’s a guy that if he got himself together up here (points to his temple), he would be one of the most dominant guards in the National Football League. Has he got it together up here yet? I don’t know. Not from knowing what to do, but just having that dog about you. I would just want to talk to guys like that. Feel them out a bit.”

Also, Robinson said Christine Michael is “gifted,” but needs to grow up. Needs to be a better blocker in pass protection, saying he has the heart to do it. He just didn’t think Michael had been asked to do that much in his life.

“In this league, defenses are too good, coaches are too smart for you to be able to be a one-trick pony,” Robinson said.

At the White House, Robinson was pleased to see how much Michael had changed in a short period.

Robinson said he’s talked to Carroll in the past about coaching and will always talk to the guys in the Seahawks in the lockerroom, no matter what his future role is.

For now, he’ll collect his ring with his pals.

If you want to hear more from Robinson, he’ll be on 710 ESPN Friday at 1 p.m.

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About

Gregg Bell joined The News Tribune in July 2014. Bell had been the director of writing for the University of Washington's athletic department for four years. He was the senior national sports writer in Seattle for The Associated Press from 2005-10, covering the Seahawks in their first Super Bowl season and beyond. He's also been The Sacramento Bee's beat writer on the Oakland Athletics and Raiders. The native of Steubenville, Ohio, is a 1993 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and a 2000 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.

An MRob NOT under contract is a much better source of information than any of us. He’s basically called Carp out for not being there mentally (surprise, surprise… think Gomer Pyle).

All of us who watch games know for a fact that Carp SHOULD be a great LG… but up to this point it’s fun (and now some of us can feel somewhat vindicated) to read/hear someone “in the know” say it how it is.

Usually, we get the crap for coaches, under contract, either making excuses for him or whatever (See Spencer, Chris comments for years and years).

I wish Carp and Michael were motivated enough internally not to have to read comments like this (if that’s what it takes). Too bad they weren’t more like ET, Sherman or Baldwin with respect to being motivated.

I think folks mis-read MRob’s quote on Carp. He stated that it wasn’t Carp not knowing what to do, but rather not having that junk-yard, Michael Bennett attitude about dominating the player across from him. If Carp had a Conrad Dobler-type attitude, it would go a long way toward him fulfilling the ideal NFL guard.

He has dominated players in the past but never seems to have a sustained effort the whole game. We will see. He probably blossoms after he leaves here.

If you’re a lazy person, you cannot pretend to be Russell Wilson and show up before everyone and work harder than all of them as well (of which Jamarcus Russell could never fathom). Maybe you can “do it” by putting in the time, but you either have the heart/work ethic or you don’t (unless it’s a contract year like a guy like Andre Smith from the Bengals).

The “Separation is in the preparation” (That includes working on yourself mentally) Buried somewhere in my library I have the Ole Anthony Robbins “Personal Power Tapes” *Grin maybe i’ll dig em out and mail them to Carp with an old boom box.

But seriously, I do wish Carp and Michael would listen to the input they are getting from those around them, and do something with it. Big difference between knowledge and Wisdom. Many of us have lots of knowledge, very few have much Wisdom. (Knowing and applying that wisdom)

Yes. Mentally, to me, is part dirtbag (the emotional tenacity) and knowing what to do (knowing what to do on each play with respect to Xs and Os). You may know what to do but if you’re heart isn’t into it – it’s really just not going to matter. I agree.

Unfortunately you can’t teach aggression IMO. It’s not something that you develope with time/experience. You’re either a fighter who refuses to be beat or you’re not. Hence the old cliche, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight…. Sweezy is a fighter, Carp is not.

Being mentally tough and being nasty IS important if you are an offensive lineman. We’ll see how Carp does in 2014. I’m not holding my breath, and I have been one of his defenders. I could see him being very good in 2014, but it would worry me to give him much guaranteed money after this year.

BTW, some people here that go ON and ON about Carp wanted some dude named Carimi. He has done jack and shit and is on his THIRD team already. But THEY apparently KNOW that Bowie or whatever other BS should be starting.

STTBM, I don’t buy the Bowie is best at one of the OG positions nor that he has been kept out of the rotation narratives. It’s fine if you guys think that. There is ZERO evidence that something other than the coaches simply just disagreeing with you all is going on.

Bowie may very well turn out to be good, but Cable has already questioned his weight and conditioning. Sound familiar? He’s no panacea IMO.

Bowie showed up fat to camp this year. Last year he wasnt so fat. He screwed up, and I think a large part of it is Bowie knows damned well he’s a G not a RT, but his only shot to play is injury or winning the RT spot he isnt meant for.

Believe as you will, he was not given a chance to compete at either G spot. A big part of that is Cable insisting on his boy Sweeze and Carp getting every chance to succeed. Another part of that equation is Carrol wanting the guys with experience and understanding of the offense to play in the playoffs despite performing worse.

We won the SB that way, so who’s to argue with it? But to say fair competition was held for the G spots is ridiculous.

STTBM, I don’t believe it’s ridiculous. You really can’t prove your point and I can’t disprove it. Although you are the one making the claim really. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I’m not even saying that you are DEFINITELY wrong. I’m just not personally convinced, for whatever that is worth.

Slave, I’m no sleezy fan as you know, but, perhaps Bowie is not getting something done that we don’t see. I guess I’m in the camp of not knowing what Bowie can, or can’t do. But, also think that Cable’s pet project sweeze gets the advantage because he is the pet. Maybe he is smart and can make the transition now, and will be ok. I don’t like the fact that Bowie came in fat. At least sweezey makes a big effort in conditioning and is a pretty gnarly guy.

No problem, STTBM. I actually like Bowie, but like Sweezy a fair amount too. I think Sweezy will be a pretty good OG this year. Possibly even a very good OG. Just a projection. I can definitely understand people wanting Bowie to start at LG over Carp. I really don’t have an issue with that. I just am not convinced that he is not because of Cable’s ego. I certainly could be wrong.

So if they were to insert Bowie into the G competition, what are they supposed to do at RT? Just hand the job to Britt? If you add competition at one spot, you’re taking away competition from another. The Seahawks are doing the right thing with Bowie. They’re giving him a chance to be a starter, and RT is the logical spot for him to compete right now. I like Bowie, but he did not show he was a better guard than Sweezy in two measly starts.

brett–Exactly what they did with Sweezy; installs Britt and coach him up, let him learn on the job, since Cable insists thats the only way to go. If it is, then let ‘er rip! Britt is a real RT prospect, he’s bound to learn faster than Sweezy, so lets just ride with our guy!

Britt is already better than anyone besides Bowie, and not only is Bowie a G and not a RT, he showed up fat and out of shape. It makes no sense to refuse to learn from the earlier mistake of trying to make a huge, slow-footed LG (Carp) into a RT, and do it again with Bowie.

Watch the Cardinals game again; Bowie was WAY better than Sweezy was in any game up to that point. He was better than Carp ever has been in his lone start at LG as well.

The thing that bothers me is that they down-played Bowie’s performance in both starts at G, when everyone could see he did very well.

What also bothered me is that they even admitted no matter how Sweezy played last year, they were going to stick with him. They admitted there was no competition for his spot. I would have liked to see Jean-Pierre and Bowie get equal chances at LG and RG, but that was never allowed.

Now, Bowie obviously doesnt have the mental aspect down as well as Carp/McQ or Sweezy, but given the opportunities Carp and Sweezy had to learn on the job, I feel he would have been better faster.

I have been coming to this blog for years. I still remember when Sando was here.

It is amazing how many new people are here. We still have Bobby, Georgia, STTBM, Sluggo and others but there are a whole bunch of names I do not recognize. Its nice to have new contributors here. I guess a Superbowl win will do that. lol

I’m pretty sure the PC/JS Seahawks are always going to have a young (i.e. cheap) o-line, and we should just get used to that concept. That’s how they pay the other guys. If all the “B” guys (Britt, Bowie & Bailey) pan out the line will be awesome, if they don’t it won’t, but it’s the area where money is saved.

I wish MRob was on this staff in some capacity – coach or mentor. Don’t the Hawks have a guy that works with players for outside of football advice i.e. finishing degrees, investments, money management, etc.

I think guys would listen to MRob..

as far as the OL goes – no they do not have open competition I don’t think Cable believes in it. Sweezy did not compete for his job – Niether did Carp when he first got here.

Speaking of transitions from college to the NFL, let us not forget that Michael Robinson was a QB! who made an extraordinarily successful change to FULLBACK. That is a little hard to fathom, considering the last thing you ask your QB to do routinely is block. The guy is special, and under-rated…I am very sad he won’t be back, but very happy they brought him back last year and he got his ring.

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